Improvement in revolving crutch-feet



UNITED y STATES dPATENT OFFICE.

J. G. BUGBEE, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING CRUTCH-FEET.

Specification `forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,371, dated August l5, 1865.

To all whom lt may concern:

Be it known that I, J. Gr BUGBEE, of Bangor, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in CrutchFeet; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, refereuccbeing had to accompanying drawings, forming part of' this specification, in which- Figure l is a View of the crutch-foot with its smooth end out; Fig. 2, acentral vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a similar view with the foot reversed 5 Fig. 4, a view showing foot and the frame in which it is hung` detached from the crutch; Fig. 5, a detail view.

Similar' letters ot' reference indicate like parts.

In the usc of crutches it has long been considered quite a desideratum to arrange their feet in such a manner that they can be readily and easily adapted, when so desired, for slippery or icy sidewalks, and therefore the present invention has for its object the accomplishmentof the above result, and which is secured thereby, it consisting in hanging and arf ang- 'ing the foot, formed upon one| end with one or more sharp points or projections, and upon the .other with a tlat or even surface, within the lower end ofthe crutch in such a. manner that it can be easily revolved therein, and thus adapted to the condition of the sidewalk upon which the person using the same is walking.

a a in the drawings represent the t'oot portion of a crutch, having at its end b a socket, c, in which the legor main portionof the crutch is inserted and fastened in any proper manner. b is the foot, hung by pivots c c in and between the outer ends, (l d, ot' the bent barf, seemed at g to a rod, h, passing upward through the foot portion a, around which is wound a spiral spring, l, resting at one end upon the shoulder m of the foot portion, upon the other end of which rests the colla-r a of the said rod h. o is a thumb-screw inserted in said collar n, passing throughythe slot 79 of foot portion a, for convenience in moving the rod it, as will be presently described.

In one end of the foot b a rubber cushion or pad, r, is inserted and held in any proper manner, its exterior surface being made ot a flat shape, while the other end portion of the foot is made to come to a point, as seen at s, a projecting rim, t, being formed upon and around the foot b, which comes to a bearing against the outer end ofthe main portion a, thus holding the foot stationary thereon.

If the sidewalks are icy, or for any other reason it should be desired to use afoot of such a form as to prevent any possibility ot' its slip pirg when used in walking, it is only necessary to reverse the position of the foot by simply lurning it within its frame, first, however, having moved it away from the main portion a by pressing down upon thepin o and bringing the pointed end thereof upon the outside, when the spring retracts the foot, bringing it again to a bearing and holding it tirmly against the main portion ot' the crutch, as hereinbeforedescribed.

The foot b may be made in various shapes other than that herein described, and its pointed end may be formed with a series of points it' desired; and also the rubber cushion may be dispensed with, but I deem it best to use it; and there are many other variations which can be made in the foot, not only in its construction, bnt in the manner of hanging it to and within the end ot' the main portion ot' the crutch, without departing from the principle ot' the present invention as hereinbei'ore stated, and theret'oie I do not intend to limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement described.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- -A reversible crutclrfoot, arranged and operating substantially in the manner described, and for the purposes specified.

The above speciiication of-my invention signed by me this 6th day of April, 1865.

` J. G. BUGBEE.

Witnesses:

E. F. DILLINGHAM D. D. STEWART. 

